Hi families!

Welcome to week 2 of our blended distance and on-site learning! It was lovely to see some of you last week at school; things are quite a bit different, but Ms. McCarthy and I are doing our very best to make sure students have fun. We are fast approaching the end of the school year – I almost can’t believe that Div. 27’s kindergarten year is almost done… Wow, they have all come so far! I know that is in large part to the incredible support that families have been providing at home, so thank you!!

This week’s learning plan is a little different than usual. One of the things that I do in my program during “normal times” is make sure that our classroom is responsive – that means observing the students’ interests and designing activities that tap into and support those passions.

I also am certain to be responsive to important events happening around us – in our community, in our country, and in our world. What I know to be true about children and their growth is that they are always smarter and more resilient than we tend to give them credit for; as we build their social and emotional intelligence, we are building their sense of responsibility and citizenship. This is difficult work, especially with younger children, who need complex topics presented in meaningful but age-appropriate ways. But we cannot shy away from this task – it is too vital and children are too important.

This week, we are focusing on diversity as a response to everything happening across North America. Discussing race and racism with children isn’t easy but it is necessary – as such, this week begins with a bit of homework for the adults in the family, an article to help support you as we all raise a generation of anti-racist children together. I am here to support any families who wish to dive deeper into anti-racist education with their children – please feel free to reach out for additional resources or to have a conversation about how to approach this topic.

Thank you for your continued support and love.

-Ms. Osiris

Weekly Learning Plan for June 8-12

For those needing the Translate function on our blog, the text-only version is below.

Week of Monday, June 8 to Friday, June 12, 2020

Theme: Diversity

This logo before an activity means that I would like you to share a picture or video on Fresh Grade! (you are always welcome to share more)

Let’s Celebrate Diversity!

This week is dedicated to reflecting on the joy and beauty in diversity. You can do bits and pieces throughout the week at the pace that is best for your family.

Read!

This assignment is for the adults in the family – Part of my usual program in the classroom involves being responsive to not only activities and interests within the classroom, but also things happening in the world around us. In light of recent events around North America, I would like to recommend a great article that might help families discuss issues of race and racism with their children.

Throughout the year, Div. 27 has been actively engaged in dialogue about diversity, empathy, and standing up for what is right. These very age-appropriate topics come together in important discussions related to current events. There are always ways to talk to children about otherwise difficult topics, so long as parents, educators, and other important adults support each other in finding the words when we sometimes feel like we don’t have them.

Check out this great article from National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/family/in-the-news/talking-about-race/

Watch!

Div. 27 knows that no two skin colours are exactly alike! Our differences are what make the world beautiful.

Check out this lovely book called Skin Like Mine: https://youtu.be/yeGtWNFT2rc

Observe!

Observe (look closely) at your own skin. What does its colour remind you of? If you have a magnifying glass at home, use it to look even closer.

Observe the skin of a family member – is their skin the same as yours? Is it different? What do you notice?

Create!

Make a self-portrait, a picture of yourself, and make sure to add lots of colour! We are used to having to hunt for just the right colour, sometimes combining more than one crayon or pencil crayon to get the right shade. Maybe you have paints at home and can try to mix some together to match perfectly.

Next to your self-portrait, draw a picture of what your skin colour reminded you of – maybe it’s caramel, or mom’s latte, or a delicious brownie!

Read!

We know that not only are all people different, but so are families! Read along with this great book called One Family: https://youtu.be/kvvRRxQqNpc

Count!

Use your family as this week’s counting collection! Draw your “one family” and represent how many people are in your family using a numeral, number word, tally, and ten-frame.

Can you find any other sets of items in your home that match your “one family” number? (ex: if there are 4 people in your family, can you find a set of 4 apples or 4 toy airplanes?)

Explore!

The next time you go out with your family, explore and notice the differences and similarities of all the people you see.

Talk with your adult about what is different about people in your community – maybe they wear different clothes, or speak different languages, maybe they have different hair or are different sizes.

Talk with your adult about what you have in common with others in your community – maybe you know people who also like to ride their bikes or you go to the same school, maybe you see others enjoying forest walks like you or hear them speak the same language as you.

Draw!

Draw a picture of some of the things you observed in your community – be sure to both include people who have things in common and people who have differences.

Read and Experiment!

Check out the story Violet on Epic!

The character in the story is a different colour than each of her parents (one red and one blue). Can you figure out what other colours you can make when you mix them together? Do some colour experiments! You can use paint, crayons, or pencil crayons to see what happens when you combine certain colours.

Watch!

Here is the story from our Class Meeting, Viola Desmond Takes Her Seat. Even if you already heard me read it, have another watch. https://youtu.be/cHAZeVw7Oow

Here is another favourite story for you to reread, Super Manny Stands Up: https://youtu.be/SglkFWnoB8Y

Reflect and Represent!

We already know how important it is to stand up for what is right, just like Super Manny. And we know that it wasn’t right for Viola Desmond to get in trouble, just for the colour of her skin. Imagine that Super Manny was at the movie theatre that night – what do you think he would have done when he saw Viola being treated unfairly?

Show your idea in a picture and do your best to add some words – combine the characters from the two stories and show what you imagine might have happened.